Are you the captain of your ship?

Recently I heard a speech about the Titanic - yes, we all know the story and believe me I was the first to be prepared to bunk down and score me some shut eye and a nanny nap. However, reflecting on it - a week later, it has still caused me to ponder the question that was posed - Are you the captain of your ship? Which meant - Am I in control of my destiny, do I know where I am going, how, why and with who/m?

What the speaker did was compare ourselves to the Titanic and described how things were severely compromised and ultimately failed - and drew analogy to ourselves and how we can be the same or make choices that make us very different.

This is my take on that talk...

1) We are not invincible

The Titanic was an enormous boat that was tagged as being unsinkable. It was celebrated as the greatest engineering achievement of the time, the fittings were the latest and lavish in design and fashion and so on and so on.... The analogy is that we as humans are children of God and as such the materials that we are made of are supreme. We are even told that we are made in the likeness of the image of God - and that's a pretty good template - YET, like the Titanic, we, despite our genetic makeup, our beautiful souls, and perfect creation are capable of the most appalling failures. We are not invincible.

2) Our inner self

As mentioned the parts of the boat were made of materials that should have been the strongest, fastest and the best. I suspect in most cases they were however not the rivets. Sitting on the window seat in a small aeroplane gives you an appreciation of the job a rivets do in holding the wings up and keeping us in the air... There were two choices of the type of rivets to be used  - one superior, and I would imagine, expensive, the other substandard and affordable. The latter was chosen. Once the water came on board in such volume and velocity - those rivets did not do their job, and because of that fundamental failure - the bottom of the boat was sucked off the boat..just like that. 

The analogy - we are made of the very best materials - there is nothing substandard about us. However if we continue to bombard ourselves with unhealthy food and practices - like the water on board the Titantic - the parts that hold us together, even being perfect in their origin, will, like the Titanic - fall away.

3) Communication

The boat was fitted with the latest communication technology which allowed people to communicate with others that were ahead of the boat. The rich people dominated this service and at a handsome price - it became a money making venture. However, during this time while busy relaying messages to land, the crew received numerous warnings of the approaching icebergs. These notices and warnings were never acknowledged and were ignored. Yet messages from the passengers out to land continued. The rest is history. The analogy - we are in receipt of inspiration, revelation, warnings, and blessings every day of our lives - do we acknowledge these or do we ignore and prioritise other things. We need to be still and listen and learn...

4) It takes time

It took 14 hours for the Titanic to sink. Fourteen hours... The analogy is simple: We are not going to fall apart in a day - it will take time for that to happen.... Marriages do not fall apart in a single moment, hurtful words do not accidently happen, and businesses do not instantly crumble. We need to heed the warning signs, be it from a partner, a colleague, a sibling or a child - take the time, and be careful with it. Let's use the time to strengthen ourselves so we are ready to face the icebergs that are coming.

5) Am I my captain?

When the Titanic hit the iceberg - the captain was asleep. Asleep instead of watching over the 1500 passengers in his care.... The question/analogy to answer/ponder is simple: Am I the captain of my ship, or will I too be asleep? For me I ask myself - will I or have I become too complacent with how things are that I am in "cruise" mode and let something else lead me along - basically deferring my captaincy?

I decided then and there - I am the captain of my ship and the co-captian of my family. I will be responsible for myself and to myself and my family.....and 2011 will be a great year!

Are you the captain of your ship?

Yours in friendship,

Mxox